World Youth Day 2008

Australia

World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event in the world and will be
held in Sydney from 15 to 20 July 2008. It gathers young people from around
the globe to celebrate and learn about the Catholic faith and to build bridges
of friendship and hope between peoples and cultures.

World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08) will mark the first visit to Australia of Pope
Benedict XVI. Up to 500,000 people are expected to gather for the largest
event of the WYD week, the Final Mass with Pope Benedict XVI at Randwick
Racecourse. WYD08 is expected to be the largest gathering of people in one
place for a single event in Australia's history, and is open to people of all ages,
denominations and religions. The stamp issue is the first Special Event stamp
issue for 2008.

Crosier (or pastoral staff)

A blessing

A greeting during Mass

Technical Information

Issue Date: 2008-03-04

FDI Withdrawal Date: 2008-04-01

Denominations: One each 50c, $1.35, $2.00

Designer: Gary Domoney, Spark Studio

Printer: SEP Sprint

Paper: Tullis Russell

Paper (self-adhesive): B100

Printing Process: Lithography

Size: 37.5mm x 26mm

Performations: 14.6 x 13.86

Sheet Layout: 50/two panes of 25

Special Feature: Stamps are all foiled

National Postmark: Sydney NSW 2000

copyright notice: This material has been reproduced with permission of the Australian Postal Corporation. The original work is held in the National Philatelic Collection.